Baling press



June 0- A. CJBARROWS ET AL 0 BALING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June28, 1937 INVENTOIB ALFORD c. BARROWS HAROLD L. mumas B GEORGE W.LANGFORDI FIG. 3.

' ATTORNEYS June 25, 1940. A. c. BARROWS El AL BALING PRESS Filed June28, 1937" s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

FIG. 6

FIG. 7.

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' INVENTOR ALFORD c.BARRow HAROLD L. HAINES BY GEORGE w. LANGFORDATTORNEYS Patented June 1940 UNITE-.1.) .STATES ATaNr orrlca t 1 examsumo raass Bum Harold w. more. Ann Arbor L. 1m and Georg.- Mlehs."signals to Economy Baler Arbonmch, aoorporationofllichigan ApplicationJune salon, Serial No. 150,842

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The invention relates to baling'presses and more particularly to thattype in w ch the mato be compressed isilrst introd into a swe larrangedbeneath the compression chamber .11. and from which it is liftedand comprcssed by a I "vertically moving platen. with such construe--tions it is usual to arrange the compression chamber above the floor andto provide hinged sides I which after, compression maybe swung outwardto permit of removal of the bale. The well for receiving the material tobe compressed extends beneath the floor and should be' of considerable.length to hold a sumcient amount of loose ma terial to form a full bale.However, there are practical limits to the space availablefor thispurpose and furthermore an excessively deep well V will proportionatelyincrease the cost of the ap-- Y paratus.

' It is one of the objects of the present invention go; to obtain aconstruction. in'which the well may be filled apluralityof times to forma single bale.

This reduces the depth required but necessitates provision for holdingthe compressed portions of the bale during the refilling operation, andalso means permitting of such refilling. Other ob- "jects of theinvention are to facilitate opening of the compression chamber and theremoval of the compressed bale therefrom and furtherto provide for,encasing .the bale with an outside wrapping. and in general to-simplifyand improve the structure. With these objects in view the inventionconsists in the construction as hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the balingpress showing the feedingdoor in open position; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the compressionchamber with the doors closed;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the movable platen showing the false platenin engagement there- 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Flgurez;

end of the compression chamber;

- Figure 6 is a similar view of the opposite end showing the lockingmechanism-for the hinged sections;

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the movable platen and false platen; mFigure Us a plan view of the locking mechanismforthesmalldoor.

In general construction the press comprises a frame A whichextends thefull length to include 56 the compression chamber-and the well'beneaththe same. This frame is formed of suitable ver- -.tical and horizontalstructural elements which together form a rectangular structure. Thepor-I tion of the frame which extends above the; floor n open at front andrear so as to'permit of slots in the end Figure 5 is a sectional endelevation of the outward swinging of the hinged members forming thecompression chamber. The well B which extends beneath the floor isformedof front, rear andend plates which are connected to and reinformedby the frame A. C is a stationary platen which is mounted at the top ofthe frame A, and

D is the movable platen normally at thelower end of the frame.

' D which extends centrally through the well B. and is-movable upwardthrough slots 3' in the m This platen comprises a beam end walls. Theplaten is raised by a suitable power actuated lifting vmechanism, thedetailed construction of which forms no part of the pres.- ent inventionand which, therefor is not illustrated. 1- v The compression chamberwhich extends above the floorcomprises an end wall E, front and rearwalls 1'! hinged to the wall E and opposite end wall sections G carriedby the walls F. These together form a rectangular compression cham-' 5her which is in alignment with and of thesamedimensions as the well Band which has central walls in alignment with the slots B for the upwardpassage of the beam D'.

As usually constructed, the hinged sections of the compression chamberextend the entire height thereof and when opened will uncover a fullbale. These sections are also opened for the introduction of thematerial into the'well which after closure of the sections and theupward movement of the platen, is compressed into the chamber to formthe bale. With such construction, after the hinged sections are once'closed they cannot be opened until the bale is .to be removed. andtherefore "if the material originally-pressed in the well isinsufllcient to form a full, compressed bale there would be no.

- means of adding to it. This difllculty is overcome by forming thehinged members in upper and lower sections F'-, F and with the lowersections capable of being independently opened while the upper sectionsremain in closed and locked position. Thus assuming that the originalfilling of the well when compressed will only occupy the space enclosedby the upper sections, then by retracting the platen and opening thelower sections the well may be refilled and this material compressed tobe added to 'the previous charge for forming the full bale. It isapparent that if the platen is lowered after the compression of theilrstcharge, some means must be provided for "retaining the compressedcharge, as otherwise it would expand by its inherent resiliency and dropwith the platen into the well. Such retaining means is formed by aseries of dogs H which are u hinged to the front and rear upper doormembers F and extend inward through slots H into the path. of the platenand material being compressed thereby. During such compression the dogswill be displaced by the rising material and which latte! hasregistering slots H permitting it to pass the dogs during its downwardmovement while the compressed charge will be retained thereby. Asspecifically shown. the dogs H are mounted upon a shaft B? which isiournaled in 'the well, the lower brackets H mounted on one of thereinforcing bars 1'. Thus. it will be understood that after the platen Dhas been returned to the bottom of door sections 1" may be openedpermitting of the refilling of the well. while the previously compressedcharge is retained by the dogs H. The door sections 1" are then againclosed and the platen is raised to compress another charge which will beadded to that previously compressed.

During the final compression of the bale the walls of the compressionchamber will be subjected to very high pressures tending to distort thesame. Any such distortion ofthe permanent end wall E may throw the axesof the hinges for the upper and lower door sections out of exactalignment so as to interfere with accurate closing. To guard againstsuch result the end wall E is reinforced from the main frame A throughthe medium of brace members. These include horizontal members A on themain frame which are connected by transversely extending bars I withreinforcing bars E on the end panel E on 'opposite sides of the slottherein.

The outer ends of these bars 1!? form the hinge brackets to which themembers F are pivotally secured and to hold these in proper alignment,turnbuckles J are arranged between the bars A? and said members E. Thereare preferably two of these turnbuckles J for each of the lower andupper hinged sections F, F", thereby permitting of adjustment which willproperly align the axes of the hinges.

The members F and I are reinforced by spaced bars F shown as I-bars, thewebs of which are extended to form hinge members for cooperating withthose on the bars E, such cooperating members being connected by thepivots l". The end sections G are secured to the reinforcing bars 1' byangle bars G so as to be held in rigid relation to the sections 1''.There are also reinforcing angle bars Ci adjacent to the inner edges ofthe sections G and the slots between the same. These hinged sections areheld in closed position by a locking mechanism of the followingconstruction:

K are hooked locking bars pivotaily attached at K to the angle bars Gand arranged respectively near the upper and lower ends thereof. Thehooks or angle flanges of the members K are adapted to engage withkeepers preferably formed by rollers L mounted upon an angle bar L whichin turn is supported by vertically extending bars L attached to the mainframe. To engage the members K with their keepers they are actuated bylinks M connected to a crank M. This crank may be rotated by suitablemechanism which as shown comprises a gear segment M thereon which is inmesh with a worm M actuated by a shaft M having a hand wheel M. Thearrangement is such that after the bale is compressed the operation ofthe handle M through the intermediate mechanism will move the members Kgradually out of engagement with the roller keepers L thereby avoidingany sudden release of the pressure. As the operating mechanism isirreversible the lock cannormally locked in not be accidentally releasedby the expansive pressure of the bale. Also, this mechanism provideshigh leverage for completely closing the hinged sections. The members G.together with the reinforcing angle bars G therefor, extend downwardbelow the door 1'" and form a seat against which the door 1" closes. Thedoor 1" is closed position by bolts N engagingkeepersNonthe bar 0'. Thebolts are retractedby rock arms N on a rockshaft N which is actuated bya lever N. Thus, normally the door 1" will open or close with the door1", but it may at any time be independently opened by withdrawing thebolts N.

It is sometimes desirable to enclose the bale in a fabric wrapper, suchas burlap. To facilitate this the platen I) may be provided with a falseplaten I) which rests thereon and which comes into direct contact withthe material to be compressed. This false platen compriseslongitudinally extending structural bars U and transversely extendingplates D which are slightly spaced from each other to provide groovesfor the insertion of the binding wires. The bars D are spaced slightlyinward from the outer ends of the plates D so as to leave beneath thelatter a space in which a roll of burlap may be stored,

and the opposite ends of the bars D are also 4 beveled to leave spacefor receiving the wrapper. With. such construction, burlap strips areextended across the topof the false platen and with end portions rolledand stored in the marginal spaces beneath the plates D. After the baleis compressed and tied the rolled extensions of the burlap strips may bedrawn upward over the bale and sewed tcgethersto form a completewrapper.

With the press constructed as above described, in use, the material tobe compressed is first introduced into the well either by opening bothupper and lower doors F, I" or on the lower door F". when the well isfull the doors are closed and locked and the material is compressed bythe upward movement of the platen D, actuated by suitable mechanism notdescribed. If the quantity of loose material in the well is insufficientto form a full compressed bale, it will be carried upward into the spaceclosed by the upper door F, the dogs H being first forced outward andsubsequently dropping inward after the passage of the platen, aspreviously described. The platen is then lowered and the lower doors Fare opened for the introduction of more of the loose material into thewell. This is compressed by the succeeding upward movement of theplaten, and these operations may be repeated as often as necessary toform a full bale.

Compressed bales have a certain degree of resiliency causing them toexpand when the compression pressure is first released. Thus if thedoors of the compression chamber were suddenly unlocked the expansion ofthe bale might swing these open with violence. Such effect is avoided byour locking mechanism in which the locking hooks are graduallydisengaged from the roller keepers and are sufficiently cammedso as topermit a certain degree of opening of the doors before complete releaseof the same. This takes up the expansion of the bale. after which thedoors may be opened without danger. Also, the fact that an irreversiblemechanism is used between the hand-operated wheel M and the lookinghooks, prevents any tendency to unlock by the expansivepressure of thebale.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a baling press, the combination with a well for receiving materialto be compressed, a platen movable upward in said well, and acompression chamber into which the material in said well is compressedbeing of a capacity substantially corresponding to that required forforming the normal size of compressed bales and having laterallyrelatively movable sides adapted to be opened for theremoval of the baletherefrom, of means for retaining compressed material in a portion ofsaid compression chamber permitting the return of said platen, and meansfor opening another portion of said compression chamber beneath thecompressed material for introducing additional material therein and intosaid well whereby a succeeding upward movement of said platen willcompress this material and add the same to the material previouslycompressed in a portion of the compression chamber, said last mentionedmeans being in one of said relatively movable sides.

2. In a baling press, the combination with a well for receiving thematerial to be compressed, a platen movable upward in said well, and acompression chamber into which the material in said well is compressedbeing of a capacity substantially corresponding to that required forforming the normal size of compressed bales and having laterallyrelatively movable sides adapted to be opened for the removal of thebale therefrom, of dogs for retaining compressed material in a portionof said compression chamber insertable therein beneath said platen, thelatter being slot ted to permit of return movement past said dogs, adoor in a portion of said compression chamber beneath said dogs adaptedto permit of the introduction of additional material into the well andthe compression of the same on the subsequent upward movement of theplaten to be added to the material previously compressed in a portion ofthe compression chamber, said door being in one of said relativelymovable sides.

3. In a baling press, the combination with a well for receiving thematerial to be compressed, a platen movable upward in said well, and acompression chamber into which the material in said well is compressedbeing of a capacity substantially corresponding to that required forforming the normal size of compressed bales and having laterallyrelatively movable sides adapted to be opened for the removal of thebale therefrom, of dogs hinged outside said compression chamber inregistration with slots in a wall thereof and in said platen beingadapted to be swung inward beneath the platen to retain the compressedmaterial when the platen is returned, and a door in said compressionchamber beneath said dogs for introducing additional material into thewell to be compressed by a subsequent upward movement of the platen andadded to the previously compressed material in a portion of thecompression chamber for forming the bale, said door being in one of saidrelatively movable sides.

4. In a. baling press. the combination with a well for receiving thematerial to be compressed, a platen movable upward in said well, and acompression chamber into which the material in said well is compressedbeing of a capacity substantially corresponding to that required forforming the normal size of compressed bales and having laterallyrelatively movable sides adapted to be opened for the removal of thebale therefrom, of an auxiliary door in a portion of one of saidrelatively movable sides'ofsaidcompression chamber, and means forretaining compressed material in said compression chamber above saidauxiliary door permitting the return of said platen whereby additionalmaterial may be introduced through said auxiliary door and compressed bya subsequent upward movement of the platen.

5. In a baling press, the combination with a well for receiving thematerial to be compressed, and a platen movable upward in said well, ofa compression chamber above said well into which the material iscompressed by said platen, said chamber being of a capacitysubstantially corresponding to that required for forming the normal sizeof compressed bales and having a hinged side adapted to be opened forthe removal of said bale, means mounted on said hinged side insertableinto said compression chamber to retain compressed material in a portionthereof when said platen is returned, and an auxiliary door in saidhinged side beneath said retaining means permitting the introduction ofadditional material into said well in sufiicient amount when compressedto complete the filling of said compression chamber and to form withthat previously compressed a full size bale.

6. In a baling press, a compression chamber provided with a stationaryside, a side portion hinged to said stationary side extending for a partof the height thereof, a complementary side portion also hinged to saidstationary side, a reinforcing frame, and a plurality of bracesextending from said frame to the hinged edge of said stationary side,said braces being individually adjustable to align the hinge axes of thecomplementary sections with each other.

7. In a baling press, a compression chamber provided with a stationaryside, transversely ex tending reinforcing members for said side,complementary side portions adjacent to said stationary side eachprovided with transversely extending reinforcing members, thereinforcing members of said stationary and complementary sides beingextended and pivotally connected to form hinges, a reinforcing frame anda plurality of braces extending from said reinforcing frame to thereinforcing members of said stationary side adjacent to the hinged endthereof, said braces being individually adjustable for the alignment ofthe hinges with each other.

8. In a baling press, a compression chamber provided with a stationaryside, transversely extending reinforcing members for said side,complementary side portions adjacent to said stationary side eachprovided with transversely extending reinforcing members. thereinforcing members of said stationary and complementary sides beingextended and pivotally connected to form hinges, a reinforcing frame anda pluralityof turnbuckle braces extending from said reinforcing frame tothe reinforcing members of said stationary side adjacent to the hingedend thereof. whereby said turnbuckles may be individually adjusted toalign the axes of said hinges with each other.-

ALFORD C. BARROWS. HAROID L. HAINES. GEORGE W. LANGFORD.

